Memory amplification for trauma: Investigating the role of analogue PTSD symptoms in the laboratory

Oulton, Jacinta M.; Takarangi, Melanie K. T.; Strange, Deryn

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.06.001

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The evidence regarding the recency of trauma exposure and risk of PTSD is mixed, with some findings suggesting that more elapsed time since trauma exposure is associated with lower levels of PTSD (Kilpatrick et al., ; Radnitz et al., ) and others suggesting that there is no effect of time (Pinto, Henriques, Jongenelen, Carvalho, & Maia, ). Research has also shown that individuals who possess clearer memories of their traumatic event are more likely to experience symptoms of PTSD (Oulton, Takarangi, & Strange, ) than those who don't remember as clearly and that PTSD responses themselves may, in fact, be more aligned to an individual's memory of a traumatic event rather than the event itself (Rubin, Bernsten, & Bohniu, ). Because CPTSD appears to be more strongly associated with childhood traumas such as physical and sexual abuse (Hyland et al., ), it is necessary to examine how variables like trauma recency and clarity of memory are associated with a differential diagnosis, as it is possible that both factors covary with childhood traumatic exposure.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Patterns of Polyvictimization and Their Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Israeli Population

Vang

Ben–Ezra

Shevlin

2019

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Although evidence is accumulating for the conceptual validity of the ICD-11 proposal for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD), our understanding of the specificity of trauma-related predictors is still evolving. Specifically, studies utilizing advanced statistical methods to model the association between trauma exposure and ICD-11 proposals of traumatic stress and differences in profiles of trauma exposure are lacking. Additionally, time since trauma and a clear memory of the trauma are yet to be examined as predictors of PTSD and CPTSD. We analyzed trauma exposure as reported by a general population sample of Israeli adults (N = 834), using latent class analysis, and the resultant classes were used in regression models to predict PTSD and CPTSD operationalized both dimensionally and categorically. Four distinct groups were identified: child and adult interpersonal victimization, community victimization-male, community victimization-female, and adult victimization. These groups were differentially related to PTSD and CPTSD, with only child and adult interpersonal victimization consistently predicting CPTSD and disturbances in self-organization. When modeled dimensionally, PTSD was associated with the child and adult interpersonal victimization and adult victimization groups, whereas only the child and adult interpersonal victimization group was predictive of PTSD when operationalized categorically. The roles of time since trauma and a clear memory of the trauma differed across PTSD and CPTSD. These findings support the use of trauma typologies for predicting PTSD and CPTSD and provide important insight into the distribution of trauma exposure in the Israeli population.

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confidence: 99%

Modeling Patterns of Polyvictimization and Their Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Israeli Population

Vang

Ben–Ezra

Shevlin

2019

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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“…Although field research suggests PTSD may contribute to memory amplification, these studies cannot test the mechanism(s) underlying this association. Recently, we investigated the memory amplification effect in the laboratory (Oulton, Takarangi, & Strange, 2016). Participants viewed negative photos (e.g., mutilation) and then completed two recognition tests-identifying photos as "old" (previously seen) or "new" (previously unseen)-one week apart.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imagining trauma: Memory amplification and the role of elaborative cognitions

Oulton

Strange

Nixon

et al. 2018

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

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“…Discrepancies in reports may arise because participants are poor at distinguishing experienced and nonexperienced events, a memory distortion process. Indeed, misremembering negative photos over time is associated with worse outcomes (Oulton, Takarangi, & Strange, 2016). However, discrepancies could also represent changes in how people interpret unaltered memories (Engelhard & McNally, 2015); participants might reinterpret the sight of blood as "seeing human remains," a shift in response bias.…”

Section: Empirical Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, some studies suggest that reports of combat exposure among veterans are sometimes exaggerated or misrepresent their true involvement (e.g., Frueh et al, 2005). We developed a lab-based paradigm to address the problem of corroboration (Oulton et al, 2016). Participants viewed negative photos of graphic scenes (e.g., death and mutilation).…”

Section: Empirical Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Explaining Memory Amplification: Is It All About the Test Format?

Takarangi

Oulton

Strange

2017

Clinical Psychological Science

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Trauma-exposed people commonly exhibit a "memory amplification" effect, endorsing exposure to more traumatic events over time. Studies reporting this phenomenon have typically relied on checklists, where participants read event descriptions and indicate (yes/no) their exposure. We examined whether that approach is vulnerable to response biases and memory errors. In two experiments, participants viewed negative photos and completed an Old-New recognition test. In Experiment 1, participants completed either a photo recognition test or description test-composed of written descriptions of negative photos. In Experiment 2, we measured analogue PTSD symptoms and participants completed the description test twice, 24 hr apart. Those in the description test condition performed worse on the memory test and were more biased to endorse negative photos compared with the photo test condition. Furthermore, this bias to endorse negative photos increased over time and was related to analogue PTSD symptoms. Overall, our findings suggest that test format plays a role in memory amplification.

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Memory amplification for trauma: Investigating the role of analogue PTSD symptoms in the laboratory

Cited by 37 publications

References 45 publications

Modeling Patterns of Polyvictimization and Their Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Israeli Population

Modeling Patterns of Polyvictimization and Their Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Israeli Population

Imagining trauma: Memory amplification and the role of elaborative cognitions

Explaining Memory Amplification: Is It All About the Test Format?

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